Temple-class ship of the line

The Temple class ships were two 68-gun third rates designed for the Royal Navy to the lines of the Vanguard of 1748, i.e. to the outdated 1745 Establishment. The Temple class ships were the last 68-gun ships to be built - both by commercial contract - to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment.

Class overview
Name	Temple
Operators	Royal Navy
In service	1759 - 1762
Completed	2
Lost	2
General characteristics
Type	68-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1422 bm
Length	160 ft 0 in (48.8 m) (gundeck) 132 ft 0 in (40.2 m) (keel)
Beam	45 ft 0 in (13.7 m)
Depth of hold	19 ft 4 in (5.9 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	520 officers and men
Armament	68 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 12 × 9 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 9 pdrs

Ships

• HMS Temple

Builder: Hugh Blaydes, Hull

Ordered: 9 September 1756

Laid down: 17 November 1755

Launched: 3 November 1758

Completed: 11 March 1759

Fate: Foundered off Cape Clear, 18 December 1762

• HMS Conqueror

Builder: John Barnard & John Turner, Harwich

Ordered: 11 January 1757

Laid down: 9 February 1757

Launched: 24 May 1758

Completed: 3 February 1759 at Harwich, then 15 March 1759 at Portsmouth

Fate:Wrecked in Plymouth Sound, 26 October 1760

References

• Lavery, Brian (1983) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
• Lyon, David (1993) The Sailing Navy List. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-617-5
• Winfield, Rif (2007) British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1714 - 1792. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-295-5